230 local teams were able to sign up for next year's cup in just five minutes. Never before have the places gone so fast.

- In part, I think it is because interest in the Gothia Cup is growing and that they want to secure their place, says Niclas Freiholtz, who is the competition leader at the Gothia Cup.

Great interest internationally

It wasn't just local teams hanging on the lock. After half an hour, over 400 teams, from 13 countries, had registered. Among other things from Scotland, Portugal, USA and Canada.

The places for the local teams are over but there has also been a great interest in the other categories. The participating teams sign up for four different categories: school accommodation, hotel accommodation, teams that arrange their own accommodation and local teams that live at home during the tournament.

- It is important to hang on the lock a little, but in total we can receive just over 1,700 teams, says Niclas Freiholtz.

Below you can hear German Sören Thalau tell us what it is like to be a judge in the Gothia cup.

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German Sören Thalau is one of the record foreign judges at this year's Gothia cup. Photo: SVT / TT